Indifferent to the viscountess’ increasingly palpable nervousness, Mihail made a swift scan of the pertinent facts provided by the school’s guards.
Mr. Rodney Walker, 25 years of age, was a clerk that has been in the school’s employ for over seven months. His listed address was one of the rooms within the school party, and he was last seen alive the night prior.
Mihail turned his attention back to the viscountess. “May I keep this, milady?”
“Of course, milord.” And unable to help it, Eleanor heard herself add in a rush, “We’ve never had such a horrible thing happen before.”
“I wouldn’t think so,” the marquis murmured noncomittally. “Has the victim any known enemies in school or in his personal life?”
Eleanor shook her head. “Mr. Walker is – was – an extremely shy person. One has to make enough of an impression to earn friends or enemies, and he never spent enough time in other people’s companies to do either.”
A contemplative look flashed over the marquis’ handsome features, and Eleanor started wringing her hands. Oh, how frustratingly difficult it was to read the marquis, and it was near driving her mad, wondering what was to be the school’s fate.
“Very well then.” The marquis slid to his feet in a lithe move. “For now, milady, shall we agree to keep this matter private?”
Eleanor couldn’t quite believe her luck. The marquis was willing to overlook this matter? Her school wouldn’t be in ruin then?
The marquis raised a brow. “Does your silence mean you are not in favor—-”
Horrified at the prospect of having the marquis change his mind, the viscountess practically jumped to her feet as her words tumbled out after each other. “No, oh no, I am simply speechless with gratitude, milord. Just so speechless, but do know I am definitely most agreeable…” Eleanor even found herself curtsying in her utter relief. “I cannot simply thank you enough, milord.”
“It is no trouble.” And indeed, it wasn’t. With the case now solely his responsibility, there were fewer chances someone would be tempted to do any kind of digging and accidentally find out Rhapsody’s involvement in the matter.
His pet had already been accused of murder once, and as far as the marquis was concerned, that would be the last time as well.
“If there is anything we could do to be of service, milord—-” Eleanor stopped speaking when she saw the glint in the marquis’ eyes.
“Actually, milady…it is the opposite.”
It was?
“With all that has happened, it has slipped my mind to inform you of my reason for coming.”
Eleanor’s eyes widened. Indeed, it was so!
“I believe you wrote to my office requesting for a guest lecturer for your newest course?”
“Yes, I did, milord, and—-” The viscountess’ voice trailed off as understanding dawned, and for one moment all she could do was stare at the marquis in shock.
Did this mean…
“You have no objections to my qualifications to teach this, I hope?”
“Not at all, milord.” Eleanor’s voice was dazed, and she could barely remember what she said or did as she saw the marquis out of her office. Turning around, she stared blindly at the crackling fire, unable to believe her good fortune…or was it misfortune?
The Marquis of Sangre…a professor in her school?
While the viscountess was still mentally reeling at the prospect of having a powerful vampire join her school’s faculty, the subject of her thoughts also had his own affairs to put into order. And the marquis’ first stop: the south tower in the school’s property, which would now serve as his temporary residence. He had never been the type to fuss about his living arrangements, but his pet had vehemently insisted on having the authority to oversee its preparations.
He knocked on the door, and almost at once Rhapsody herself appeared to welcome him, a vision in blue silk and with her dark hair twisted up in an elegant chignon.
“The matter has been taken care of,” he said quietly. “You need not trouble yourself over it.”
“I was never troubled,” his pet said placidly. “You said you would take care of it, and you always keep your word, milord.” She then stepped back and opened the door wide. Dark eyes looked up to him as her voice, prim and alluring all at the same time, played ever so softly into the air.
“Please come in now, Master.”
Says a young, nubile Eve to her blood-drinking Adam, Mihail found himself thinking, and was all at once wary, discomfited, and extremely aroused.
Chapter Three
As it was obvious that Rhapsody felt the need to redeem herself, Mihail patiently indulged his pet’s whims as she took him upon a tour of the south tower. He obediently lent his ear as she painstakingly described its most valuable artworks, and he obligingly made suitable sounds of approval when she enumerated the tower’s Most Esteemed Guests.
Afterwards – and only at his insistence – she led them back to the dining room in the second floor. The other room that Rhapsody preferred, albeit more formal, would also require them to sit twenty fucking feet away from each other. He was all for propriety, but until he had his fill of his pet, he needed her within reach.